Comments Off on LEGO reintroduces Vestas wind turbine set, now made with plant-based plastic

LEGO Group has just released a LEGO Creator Expert set from the ‘vault’ that focuses on sustainable energy. The company announced its Vestas Wind Turbine creation at New York Climate Week in hopes of encouraging creativity while spreading the word about renewable and sustainable energy sources. The revamped wind turbine set will be the first LEGO set featuring the new plant-based plastic LEGOs, Plants from Plants. LEGO collaborated with Vestas, a leader in sustainable energy, to make the new and improved wind turbine set. Not only does the kit represent renewable energy, but some of the included plant elements are made from a plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane. This is the first time LEGO has issued a set including pieces from its Plants from Plants initiative, and customers will be able to purchase the wind turbine this coming Black Friday (November 23). Related: LEGO is rolling out its first plant-based plastic pieces The Vestas Wind Turbine set is comprised of 826 pieces and stands 3 feet tall. The wind turbine overlooks a wooded area complete with spruce trees — made in part from sugarcane — as well as a cottage with a working porch light. The set will be available for $200. The toy company plans on using only sustainable materials in core products and product packaging by 2030. In addition to this commitment, LEGO has also pledged to become eco-friendly in the production of its plastic bricks. To that end, LEGO incorporates wind power in the production process and generates as much power from sustainable sources as it does from traditional ones. “We strive to make a positive impact on the environment and are committed to climate action and to use sustainable materials in products and packaging,” said Tim Brooks, vice president of environmental responsibility at LEGO. “This wind turbine celebrates our first steps in bringing these ambitions to life, and we hope it will inspire builders to learn about renewable energy.” + LEGO Images via LEGO

Comments Off on LEGO is rolling out their first plant-based plastic pieces

Plants from plants: that’s LEGO’s description for their first sustainable bricks . They’ll be rolling out botanical elements like trees, leaves, and bushes manufactured with plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane this year. The move is part of their goal to utilize only sustainable materials in their packaging and core products by 2030. LEGO is utilizing plastic polyethylene based on sugarcane material: specifically, ethanol . LEGO Group Environmental Responsibility vice president Tim Brooks said plant-based polyethylene possesses the same properties as regular polyethylene, so kids and parents probably won’t notice a difference in the look and quality of the new bricks. Related: Build your own BIG-designed LEGO House with LEGO Architecture’s newest kit What does the term ‘sustainable material’ mean to LEGO? According to the company, “The LEGO Group believes a new sustainable material must have an ever-lighter footprint than the material it replaces across key environmental and social impact areas such as fossil resource use, human rights , and climate change .” The sugarcane is sustainably sourced, according to the company, “in accordance with guidance from the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance ,” which is a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiative. It’s also “certified by the Bonsucro Chain of Custody Standard .” LEGO partnered with WWF “to support and build demand for sustainably sourced plastic” and joined the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance. Give your biggest "green" to the very FIRST #sustainable LEGO Bricks! LEGO botanical elements including leaves and trees will now be made from sugarcane-based plastic.The first “greens” are to appear in LEGO sets later this year. Sweeet? #PlantsfromPlants https://t.co/rZKijykjYO pic.twitter.com/yraEOLq5NM — LEGO (@LEGO_Group) March 1, 2018 LEGO’s press release did not include information on recycling the sustainable bricks; but The Guardian said the bioplastic could be recycled several times, although it’s probably not 100 percent biodegradable . As of now, polyethylene elements comprise one to two percent of all the plastic elements produced by the company. The sustainable trees, bushes and leaf pieces will be comprised entirely of plant-based plastic, and they will pop up in LEGO boxes in 2018. Brooks said, “This is a great first step in our ambitious commitment of making all LEGO bricks using sustainable materials.” + LEGO Images courtesy of LEGO

Tel Aviv is shooting for the stars with the world’s tallest LEGO tower . Technically, the 118-foot tower is made out of LEGO and other toy bricks, and the attempt isn’t sponsored by LEGO, like other towers have been. Instead, this tower is a playful way to honor an 8-year old cancer victim named Omer Sayag. Embed from Getty Images window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’LK_n8Ge2RURt1djGz5PRkw’,sig:’yDrTFkOxwQULu4XBM14CfRxI62Hm_kzNZ_MoNE5oTTo=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’898930378′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })}); Milan and Budapest have both made attempts at the world’s tallest LEGO tower, although both were in collaboration with LEGO. Tel Aviv’s tower is a collaboration between Tel Aviv City Hall and Young Engineers, a program that uses LEGO blocks to help teach kids engineering. Omer Sayang lost his battle to cancer in 2014, and his teachers, knowing how much he loved to build, started a petition to build what is being called Omer’s Tower. Related: Hungary Builds World’s Tallest LEGO Tower Embed from Getty Images window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’HfCEwf1aSJJ8hV_iH3ewQA’,sig:’zIl0az1XJK5K9FWYnapqRC0KoPvzgf8ZAAtIRFpdzZY=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’898928316′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })}); The tower stretches 117 feet 11 inches and required a half million toy bricks. Thousands of people collaborated to realize its construction, marking it with their team insignias and positive messages. The measurements were sent to Guinness and now the team is waiting for official confirmation that the tower is, in fact, the tallest ever, beating Milan by 35 inches. Embed from Getty Images window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’Dhg7nk98SkBUJyx9FCHqsQ’,sig:’Gi2GkMIY6wzABbr2ze7xbejRs0UzlxJDU0hExwjZZRg=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’898928182′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })}); Via the New York Times Lead image via Unsplash

Comments Off on Here’s your once-in-a-lifetime chance to stay in a life-size LEGO House

Get ready to live out your childhood dream! The LEGO House in Billund, Denmark has partnered with Airbnb to offer one family the chance to spend the night in a home made of 25 million bricks . This is an incredible opportunity, and the two-story residence has some amazing features – check them out after the break! The home is well-suited for children, as nearly everything inside is made from LEGO bricks – from the bed in the middle of a LEGO-filled pool to a pixellated “waterfall” and even a giant teddy bear. Other quirky objects on display include a brick newspaper and a breakfast tray for the morning. There’s even a brick-built alarm clock! If guests do feel as if they are missing something, there are plenty more bricks to build with – patrons can use the LEGO molding machine in the lobby to build extra amenities. Other attractions a family might enjoy include the “Tree of Creativity” (which is built from over 6 million bricks) and “Experience Zones” that allow you to direct your own movie , create robotic cars and even design entire cities. LEGO also showcases fan-made masterpieces from all around the world in the Masterpiece Gallery. Related: LEGO relaunches its beloved Taj Mahal model with almost 6,000 bricks Though the LEGO House is a popular tourist attraction in the Danish town, visitors aren’t normally allowed to stay the night. To enter the competition, a family needs to share the one thing they would build if they had an unlimited supply of LEGO bricks. The winners will get the opportunity to bring the object to life, thanks to the help of Master Builder Jamie Berard. Said Berard, the Design Manager Specialist at the LEGO Group: “I am so intrigued to see what people will imagine . We have unlimited bricks here, and in some ways it can be a bit challenging but it also liberates you to imagine something that is truly meaningful and expressive. The uniqueness of the opportunity to stay in the home of the LEGO brick should hopefully inspire everyone. That’s how I feel when I come here.” Added James McClure, Airbnb’s General Manager for the UK and Nordic countries, “This really is a dream come true for any family with a passion for LEGO and I doubt there will be much sleeping as there is so much to enjoy in this incredible space.” + LEGO House + Airbnb Via Mirror UK Images via Airbnb/LEGO Home

Comments Off on LEGO relaunches its beloved Taj Mahal model with almost 6,000 bricks

LEGO lets people enjoy the beauty of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, one stunning model at a time. Now, their collection of LEGO architecture models is getting even better, because the company is relaunching an old favorite, the Taj Mahal. Originally released in 2008, the majestic building is back almost ten years later with an improved building experience that includes 5,900 pieces that capture the building’s most intricate details. Easily one of the most recognizable designs in the world , the iconic Taj Mahal was built in 1632 by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, the Empress Mumtaz Mahal. The building’s four facades are covered in a series of sophisticated arches, balconies and windows that give the design its unmistakable majestic character. A large central dome is surrounded by subsidiary domed chambers and a number of minarets covered in intricate finials. Related: LEGO celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday with Guggenheim Museum kit The original LEGO Architecture model of the Taj Mahal, which was released almost ten years ago, was one of the company’s most popular architectural sets. The brand new version carefully recreates the icon’s beautiful details, down to the ornate detailing and intricate tile work. As one of the largest LEGO models ever released, its dividable into seven modular sections to make for easy transportation. At almost 6,000 pieces, the set is sure to inspire both budding architects and serious LEGO fans. The LEGO Taj Mahal model will be available November 27th. + LEGO Architecture

Trailblazing women who have been instrumental in NASA’s space program are being honored in a special way: as LEGO toys. The company just displayed the final design , with an official launch date for the 231-piece set that includes four women: Mae Jemison, Sally Ride, Margaret Hamilton, and Nancy Grace Roman. Science writer and LEGO tinkerer Maia Weinstock proposed the idea for Women of NASA on the LEGO Ideas platform last summer – and reached 10,000 supporters in 15 days. LEGO designers Gemma Anderson and Marie Sertillanges got on board to help transform the idea into an official set, which will launch November 1. Related: BIG’s LEGO House officially opens to the public in Denmark Sally Ride was the first American woman in space , while Mae Jemison was the first woman of color in space. Nancy Grace Roman was the first woman to hold an executive role at NASA, and was instrumental in planning the Hubble Telescope . Margaret Hamilton “led the team that developed the building blocks of software engineering – a term that she coined herself,” according to NASA . Weinstock said in a statement, “…when girls and women are given more encouragement in the STEM fields, they become more likely to pursue careers in these areas. With this project, I wanted to spotlight a fantastic group of women who have made seminal contributions to NASA history. My dream would be to know that the first human on Mars – or an engineer or computer scientist who helped her get there – played with the LEGO Women of NASA as a child and was inspired to pursue a STEM career as a result.” The original proposal included five women, but according to a LEGO statement, “Katherine Johnson chose not to be part of the set.” If you’re in the New York City area, there will be a pre-release event October 28 at the Flatiron District LEGO store on 200 5th Avenue from 10 AM to 2 PM. You can check out details on the Facebook event page here . Via LEGO and LEGO Ideas Blog Images via LEGO

Comments Off on BIGs LEGO House officially opens to the public in Denmark

It’s finally here— Bjarke Ingels Group’s much-anticipated LEGO House in Denmark officially opens to the public today. Built in the small town of Billund where the iconic LEGO brick was invented, the “House of the Brick” is a unique space that promises visitors the ultimate LEGO experience with its exhibitions, experience zones, and LEGO-themed architecture, restaurants, and public spaces. The LEGO House, which celebrated its grand opening yesterday, is filled with 25 million LEGO bricks and took four years to build. The 12,000-square-meter LEGO House is a year-round destination expected to welcome 250,000 paying visitors annually. BIG designed the incredible toy-like building to look like 21 massive plastic LEGO bricks stacked together. These rectangular blocks, clad in textured clay tiles, are staggered to create publicly accessible rooftop spaces and to allow daylight into the interior. The building offers publicly accessible spaces such as the elevated terraces, LEGO Square, store, and restaurants; however, the experience zones that form the heart of the LEGO House are ticketed. The experience zones include two exhibition areas and four play areas divided into two color-coded zones, with each color symbolizing a special aspect of play and learning. Red is for creative skills, blue for cognitive skills, green for social skills, and yellow for emotional skills. “It has been a dream for me for many years to create a place that will give our visitors the ultimate LEGO experience. With LEGO House, we celebrate creativity and the strength of learning through play. When they play, children learn the basic skills that they need, such as creativity, collaboration and problem-solving abilities,” says third-generation LEGO owner, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen. Related: Build your own BIG-designed LEGO House with LEGO Architecture’s newest kit The LEGO House also includes three restaurants, a LEGO Store, and conference room, and a 2,000-square-meter LEGO Square. Visitors can purchase tickets online . + LEGO House Images via LEGO

Visionary architect, Frank Lloyd Wright – who was born on June 8th, 1867 – designed and built over 500 buildings over the course of his lifetime. To celebrate the beloved architect’s 150th birthday, LEGO is releasing 740-piece lego set that lets architecture lovers recreate one of Wright’s most iconic works – NYC’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The custom lego set is highly detailed, recreating the museum’s beautiful modernist curvaceous facade and even has the building’s eight-story annex tower sitting adjacent to a stretch of NYC’s 5th Avenue Museum Mile, complete with tiny yellow cabs. The kit even includes a scaled replica of the Guggenheim sign, which features Wright’s own architectural lettering. Related: LEGO Announces Model of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House “This accurately detailed Lego model faithfully recreates the curves and distinctive lines that have made this building an architectural icon for the last half-century,” said LEGO. Although the Guggenheim set is a celebration of one of the architect’s most iconic building, it’s not the first time that LEGO has shown the architect some love. Six years ago, the company released a 2,276-piece version of his beautiful Robie House . This isn’t the first time LEGO has released the Guggenheim museum, either, but the previous set was much smaller and less detailed than this newest set. The Guggenheim Museum will also be celebrating the architect with architecture-themed tours and various activities throughout the month of June. + LEGO Via Dezeen Images via LEGO and Wikimedia Commons